Plantar excision of primary interdigital neuromas

Area of Science:

• Podiatric Surgery
• Neurectomy Techniques
• Foot and Ankle Surgery

Background:

• Interdigital neuralgia, often caused by nerve compression, is a common foot condition.
• Surgical neurectomy is a treatment option for persistent interdigital neuralgia.
• Various surgical approaches exist, including dorsal and plantar incisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of primary interdigital neurectomies performed via a plantar incision.
• To compare the success rate and complication profile of the plantar approach with existing literature on dorsal approaches.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 57 primary interdigital neurectomies performed through a plantar incision in 51 patients.
• Detailed description of the surgical technique utilized for the plantar approach.
• Classification of outcomes into excellent, good, and poor categories based on patient results.

Main Results:

• Overall, 26 feet (45.6%) had excellent outcomes, and 27 feet (47.4%) had good outcomes.
• A total of 4 feet (7.0%) were classified as poor results.
• The plantar approach resulted in a technically simple procedure and a comfortable scar.

Conclusions:

• The plantar incision approach for interdigital neurectomy is technically straightforward and yields satisfactory cosmetic results.
• The observed failure rate of 7.0% for the plantar approach is comparable or superior to reported rates for dorsal incisions.
• Enhanced success with the plantar method may be attributed to the potential for more proximal nerve resection.